Earthquake Tower
Students engineer a structure to survive a shake-table test — structural design, testing and iteration in action.
8 hours of PD · student course notes & videos · full materials list — all in the one purchase.
Watch the project in action
One price. Everything to run it.
You are not just buying student worksheets. You get the full professional development so you can teach it with confidence — and every resource your students need to build it.
- ✓8 hours of step-by-step professional development — you learn the whole project before you teach it
- ✓Student course notes with the engineering principles, activities and linked videos
- ✓Instructional videos for every stage of the build
- ✓A teacher guide with the program, tips and how to troubleshoot when kids get stuck
- ✓A full materials list with links to where you buy each part
About this project
What students build
Students design and build a tower, then test it on a shake table that simulates an earthquake. To survive, the structure has to be light and strong — so students confront real structural engineering: load paths, bracing, triangulation and where a design fails under stress.
Why it works in a real classroom
Testing to failure is the hook. Towers that look solid crumble; clever, lightweight designs hold — and the whole class is watching. Students immediately see the consequence of their decisions and go back to improve. The build is simple enough that everyone gets a tower on the table, so you’re teaching engineering, not refereeing chaos.
How the unit is sequenced
Fully sequenced, lesson by lesson. You get student course notes on structural principles, videos for each stage, the shake-table build instructions, and a teacher guide that walks you through the whole project before you teach it.
Materials required — and where to buy them
Here is exactly what your students need to build it. We have done the sourcing for you — buy the parts yourself from the links below, or order them through us if you would rather not chase them down.
| Item | Where to buy |
|---|---|
| Structural material (balsa, card or dowel) | Local craft / hardware supplier |
| Adhesive and joining materials | Local supplier |
| Shake-table components | Build it yourself — instructions included |
See it built
Real builds from real classrooms.
What teachers say
“The kids were engaged the whole way through, and for once I wasn’t running around fixing everyone’s build. It just worked.”
“I’d never taught anything like this before. The PD meant I knew exactly what was coming and how to handle it. Genuinely saved me weeks of prep.”
Placeholder testimonials — replace with real teacher quotes.
Questions teachers ask
Do I need to buy a shake table?+
No. The project includes full instructions to build a simple, reusable shake table from cheap materials, so you can test every tower in class.
Do I need to be an expert to teach this?+
No. Every project includes 8 hours of professional development that walks you through the whole build from start to finish — including how to help students when something goes wrong. If you have never built with resistant materials before, this is designed for you.
What exactly do I get for the price?+
Everything you need to run the project: the professional development for you, the course notes and videos for your students, the teacher guide, and a materials list with links to buy the parts. One price, no add-ons required.
Is the professional development really included?+
Yes. The project and the PD are the same purchase — you are not buying them separately. Buy the project and the training comes with it.
What do I still need to buy on top?+
The student materials for the build. We give you the exact list and links to where you can buy each part (often cheaper online) — or, if you would rather not chase parts, you can order them through us.
How do my students and I get access after I buy?+
As soon as you check out you get access to the download pack and the professional development, so you can start planning straight away.
Can I use it with more than one class?+
Yes — one purchase covers you to run the project with your classes at your school.
What if it is not right for my classroom?+
If it is not a fit, get in touch and we will make it right. See our refund policy for the details.
Run Earthquake Tower without the overwhelm
One purchase gives you the training, the student resources and the materials list — everything you need to teach it with confidence.